Page 52 of A Wolf's Wound
Chapter 30
Hannah
Fortherestofthe day, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.
I know it doesn’t make any sense.I’m in the clinic the entire time.I control who gets to see me; I even keep my office door closed, which is uncharacteristic enough that I catch Melinda giving me strange glances all day.Lori’s not in, which is just as well.I don’t know how I’d be able to handle being around Ryder’s mother today.
Every time Melinda pages me to announce that a patient has arrived, my blood pressure shoots up until I can confirm that, yes, it’s just a patient, not Ryder.Or Gavin.Or another of the Stone pack.
I stay in for lunch and finally catch up on the mountain of paperwork that’s collected over the past few days.But even then, I can’t tamp down the sense that someone is keeping an eye on me.
By the time we close up, I’m totally fried.“I’ll see you tomorrow!”Melinda chirps as we lock up.
“Yeah,” I say, trying to muster up a smile.“Have a good night.”
“You too.Hey,” she says, looking a little concerned, “do you want a ride home?”
It’s a sweet gesture, but the thought of having to make small talk seems like too huge a chore right now.“Thanks, but I enjoy walking,” I tell Melinda.“Get home safe.”
“You too,” she says.
Maybe, I think as I walk away from the building,this will give me a chance to clear my head.Or at least shake off the lingering bad feelings from my argument with Ryder.
I expected him to keep going, trying to wear me down with sheer persistence.I have to admit, I was surprised when he just left.And a little impressed.I can’t help but respect him a bit more.
But just a bit.I’m still pissed off that he wouldn’t take my refusal for an answer, that he wouldn’t believe I’m more comfortable on my own than at his family’s compound.And I still don’t think I can trust him.
By the time I get home, I’m not feeling any better.In fact, thinking about all of this on the walk home has just made me more irritated.And now I’m absolutely sure I’m being watched.Probably followed by one of Ryder’s enforcers, who’s reporting back to him on my every movement.
“Argh!”I cry when I finally step into the apartment.I slam the door behind me, and it closes with a satisfying bang.April, who was lying on the couch, sits up suddenly.
“Damn, what’s wrong with you?”she asks, looking startled.“I was napping.”
“Sorry,” I grumble, dropping down on the couch next to her.“Bad day.”
“Patient or Ryder?”she asks.
“Ryder, of course,” I spit out.“He makes me so mad!It’s like he doesn’t know how to listen to anyone, least of all me.”
“Wow, a guy who doesn’t listen,” April says dryly.“What a shock.”
“I know.I know.”I nod.“It’s totally predictable and all that, but that doesn’t make it less infuriating.”
“You’re right,” she says.“What happened?”
“Oh, the same old bullshit,” I groan.“He doesn’t think I’m safe here and wants me to move in with him—”
“The hell?”April asks, and I nod.
“Right?I mean, notwithwith him, not like that.But into his family’s place so he can keep tabs on me or whatever.”
“One could argue that it’s kind of sweet, how much he cares for your safety.”
“One could also argue that it’s kind of infuriating to continually tell a man ‘no, thanks, I’m good,’ and have him ignore your words.”
“And that one would be right,” April agrees.
“Thank you!There’s another thing too.”I sigh.
